New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-05
A CRIME NOT TO BE IGNORED


Senator Sherman is being generally dc
nounced by the Democratic party for telling the
tnth. It pleascs those who despse sincerity and
earnest belief in political matters, to meet
with sneers and gr0tcsque Misrepresentation
every mention of the hostility manifested In
Southern States toward the National election
laws. No doubt it may amuse Democrats OF
a certain sort to have their political opponents
represented as cnraged because the Southern
people are growing prosperous and arc rapidly
developing resources which q Democratic Ma
tional policy left wholly undevelopcd. But
they are all perfectly aware that every
clear headed Republican rejoices with exceed
ing Joy at evidences Of Improvement and
diversfcation of industry at the South He
rejoices. because the whole country shares
the blessing when a great section lays broad
and deep the foundation of lasting prosperity.
He cjoices, because the upbuilding of the
South adds another enduring monument of the
wisdom Of the Republican policy and the
unselfish patriotism of the Republican leaders.
He rejoiccs, because every mine that is opened
every mill that is built, every furnace in which
the fires are lighted becomes fortress OF
Republicanism.
The worst enemies Of the Southern people.
for the last twenty seven years, have been
tho Southern people themselves. They were
less to blame by far than the Northcm
trcIsters who misled them with false prom
ises; less criminal by far than the Southern
politicians who made murder habit in that
section for tho sake of party But the North
ern newspapers and the Southern leaders IN
crime would have been powercss for evll
if the white people of the South had not sup
ported by words and votes and acts the worst
men and their worst deeds. 1t does no good
to blink The. fact that the prevailing opinion
at the South has teen All on the side OF crimc
and resistance to law. Eminent clergymen
and prominent merchants were found to OK
cuse every massacre decent citizens either
sympathized with murder for paI1y's sake, Or
were too tmid to stand up for right and law.
The fruit of these atrocities is that the Dem
ocratic party has gained power to fix the vot-
ing places. select the officers of elections and
count the votcs-that is, to turn out such ma
jorties as it pleascs. 1t insolcntly revcls in
tho exercise of that power, and robs million
citizens of their suffrage, placing President
in the seat of Washington by fraud and crime.
and then snccrlnSy asks III uhc "ViNS VI
Tweed, What are you going TO do about III
THE TRIBUNE viii not mince words in speak
ing Of this organized resistance to the laws OF
the United States. 1t holds the men who do
these things dsloyal now. as they were in
1861. They are rebels against the Govern
mcnt now, as they were whipped rebels when
Lee surrendered. If there is a difference in
criminality the rebels Of 1861 were less guilty
as they were drawer and less mean than the men
who now swindle the nation which has gcncr-
ously paidoned them, in order to defy and dc
feat its laws and steal its Offices.
When THE TRIBUNE speaks of the rebel
lion which still exists at the South, it treats
exactly as il deserves deliberate organized
and disloyal resistance to the authority and
the laws of the United States, which seized its
opportunity by systematic assassination which
has been persisted in for twenty years, and
which has placed Mr.. Cleveland in the White
House. 1t does not intend that the people Oh
either section shall forget this persistent de-
feat of law, this denial of suffrage by force and
fraud. this greatest OF all crimes against free
government, or shall come to believe that hon
est and loyal citizens regard that crime with
indifference.